Why the *RAPTURE* is *ASCENSION* As Jesus had a bodily ascension......

SPIRIT FOOD FOR THE CHURCH:

ACTS 1:9
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

1st Thessalonians 4:17
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Acts 1:11 Ascension Day

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”


IF THIS WAS A CELESTIAL EVENT, EVERYONE WOULD OF SAW JESUS RETURN BACK TO EARTH, BUT ONLY HIS FOLLOWERS WERE A WITNESS TO THIS EVENT. MORE PROOF THAT JESUS IS COMING FOR THE CHURCH WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE FOR THOSE LEFT BEHIND.

Psalm 40 Acts 1:11

The angel says, "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

How did He go up into Heaven, Bodily,Straight up. Into the clouds.

But we know at Christ's Second Coming, He's going to be riding a celestial horse with the armies of Heaven at His back. That is NOT the same way He went up.

WHEN CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED, HE LAY IN THE TOMB 3 DAYS...
DARKNESS...

MATTHEW 27:

The Death of Jesus

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[d]

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 (RAPTURE OF THE DEAD) They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!


The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.


Jesus Has Risen-*ASCENSION***

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

JESUS SAID:
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE END OF THE AGE?

THE SIXTH SEAL WILL BE OPENED AND THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN JESUS ASCENDED...
An Earthquake
3 Days of Darkness
Tombs being opened..
Resurrection of the dead.


When the "SIXTH SEAL" was broken John tells us that there was a "GREAT EARTHQUAKE," and the "SUN BECAME BLACK AS SACKCLOTH OF HAIR," and the "MOON BECAME AS BLOOD," and the "STARS OF HEAVEN FELL TO THE EARTH," and the "HEAVEN DEPARTED AS A SCROLL," and "EVERY MOUNTAIN AND ISLAND WERE MOVED OUT OF THEIR PLACE."

Such physical phenomena and changes have happened before. We must not forget the "GREAT DARKNESS" that for 3 days overspread Egypt in the days before the Exodus (Ex. 10:21-23), nor the "DARKNESS" that settled over Jerusalem and Calvary on the day of the Crucifixion of Christ. Matt. 27:45.